Car-coupling



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' Sf. A. V. HARTWELL.

M GAR COUPLING.

No. 249,616. Patented NOV/15,1881.

INVENTOR Jmm BYMMM ATTORNEYS.

(ModeL) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

S. A. V. HARTWELL.

' GAR COUPLING.

No. 249,616. Patented Nov. 15.1881.

WITNESSES INVENTOR fifi lyw/ BY ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

SAMUEL A. V. IIARTWELL, 0F VALLEY CENTRE, KANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,616, dated November15, 1881.

Application filed August 18, 1881. (ModeL) T 0 all whom it may concernBe it known that I, SAMUEL A. V.HAR'1- WELL, of Valley Oentre,in thecounty of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have in vented a new andImproved (Jar-Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the coupling of carswithout danger to the operator.

The invention consists of the combination of a draw-head having asliding cap for regulating the size of the coupling entrance, a notchedcoupling-pin for adjusting the link, and a flat link having groovedends, all of which will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of theimproved coupler. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same online y 3 Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section of the same on line 00 m, Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling-link.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the drawhead,having a central squaremouth, a, and on either side thereof a rectangular recess, 1), all ofwhich are designed for the entrance of coupling-links when threeconplinglinks are used, according to a common practice on some roads.

'The coupling-pins in each case are designed to be inserted in holes 0c. The upper central hole, 0, is slotted fore and aft, in order topermit the adjustment of the coupling-pin B, as will be hereinafter setforth, and from the top of the draw-head A, on either side of this hole0, rise cheek-blocks d, that are designed to prevent the lateralmovement of the sliding cap 0. This cap 0 has a flat bottom for aportion ofit-s length, as shown at f, and then curves up at its rearend, as shown at g, and fits in a corresponding socket, h, in the top ofthe drawhead A, having its front end projecting over the slotted hole a,and the semi-circular groove t'in its end fitted about the coupling-pinB. When the latter is in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, orwhen withdrawn from the link D and still in an upright position, it isso held by the pressure of said cap 0 upon it,the latter being forcedand held forward in position by its weight and by the contact of itsinclined plane 9 with the incline of the socket h of the draw-head A.

The coupling pin B is a round rod or pin having a flanged head, It, forconvenience of of manipulating and to indicate the position of the notchn in its lower end, and a collar, 1, to prevent it from fallingtoo far,and its lower end is cut away or flattened on both sides, as shown at m,to facilitate its entrance into the link D, and just above its pyramidalpoint n said pin B is notched in the rear, as shown at '77., for holdingthe link D in coupling position for coupling with a car on the samelevel, as shown in Fig. 2.

The linkD is flat, with rounded ends 0, and having grooves 19 formed onthe upper faces of the ends, as shown in Fig. 4.

Theoperation is as follows When arranged for coupling with anothercar onthe samelevel the pin B is vertical, as shown in Fig. 2, and the link Dis held thereby, a grooved endp of said link D being engaged in thenotch a of the pin B, and said link D being thereby held in a horizontalplane, as shown, and so arranged the said link D can be swung to theright or left, as shown in Fig. 3, for convenience of coupling, ifdesired, by rotating the pin B. An approaching car will strike the linkD on its outer end and disengage it from the notch a, when the pin Bwill fall into conpling position, while the opposite pin does the same.When it is desired to couple with a higher car the rear end of the linkD is engaged in a socket, q, formed within the month of the draw-head A,and the bottom of said socket (1 being inclined, as shown at s, theforward end of said link D is thrown upward, as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 2. WVhen it is desired to couple with a low car the link D ispermitted to hang loose about the pin B, so that the forward end of saidlink D shall incline downward. In these last two cases the pin B is inboth holes 0, and the contact of the opposing car will serve to jar thepin B and link D in their proper coupling positions. When, in order tocouple with a very high car, it is necessary to elevate the link D veryconsiderably, said link D is engaged in the notch n of the pin B, andthe cap 0 being drawn up to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig.2, the slotted upper hole,.c, is thereby fully enlarged or opened, andthe pin B is drawn up ward and inclined, as indicated in dotted lines,Fig. 2. A stop, a, on the inside of one of the cheek-blocks d pret'entsthe disengagement of said cap 0. i

Some of the advantages possessed by this device are that thecoupling-pin controls the positions of the coupling-link; that thecoupling can be done by hand without danger to the operator; that itwill couple cars of any difference in height; that it is simple andinexpensive and can be applied to or removed from a draw-head withslight expense.

Having thus fully described myinvention,I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A car-coupler constructed substantiallyasherein shown and described, consisting of draw-head A, provided withslotted upper coupling-hole, a, sliding cap 0, and internal socket, q,coupling-pin B, having notch n and flattened sides m, and flatcoupling-link D, having grooved ends 019, as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the draw-head A, provided with slotted uppercoupling-pin hole, 0, internal link-socket q, sliding cap 0, and capstopu, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a car-coupler, as a means for preventing the disengagement of thesliding cap 0, the combination, with the cheek-blocks d, of the stop u,substantially as'herein shown and described.

4. In a car-coupler, as a means for holding the coupling-pin in positionand for regulatin g the size of the upper coupling-pin hole, the slidingcap 0, having an inclined plane 9, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

5. In a car-coupler, as a means for adjusting the coupling-link, thecoupling-pin B, having collar 1, flattened sides m, notch n, and point01/, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In a car-coupler, as a means for coupling the cars, the flat link D,having rounded ends 0, provided with face-grooves 10, substantially asand for the purpose described.

SAMUEL A. V. HARTWELL.

lVitnesses:

G. J. LOWRY, H. M. CARPENTER, A. H. CARPENTER.

